We live in a fast-paced world and we are modern girls. We are busy wheeling and dealing, making meals, putting out fires, planning for our futures, delegating, teaching life lessons, showing up, cultivating relationships, running meetings, errands, marathons, looking presentable, looking desirable, we’re leaning in, we’re leaning out, and trying to finish a goddamn book.
And it’s not just because we’re expected to or have to. No, it’s because we want to. But what happens when we realize that we’ve put ourselves on autopilot trying to “be it all” and lack the skills to turn it off? We pride ourselves for the time and effort we’ve put into building our successes but then feel the imbalance when we struggle to slow down and actually enjoy our successes.
What we have discovered is that when we feel the imbalance in our lives, we must find the counterbalance.
We think most can relate to this go, go, go mentality. Perhaps even connecting productivity to our worth. We're finding out that the most difficult part isn’t the hustle, it’s the slowing down, taking a break without guilt, celebrating past victories before planning our next goal, and being present in the lives we’ve worked so hard to create. But the good news is you’re not alone because it’s not just you, it’s science!
Newton's first law, or law of inertia, states that a body in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Sound familiar? If so, we’d like to introduce you to our counterbalance, our new yoga instructor Cheryl Coon, PhD. Get to know Cheryl by reading her bio below and how she balances science with yoga to teach us HOW to use these skills to quiet the sympathetic nervous system.
Cheryl is a recovering overachieving perfectionist. She turned to yoga in 2010 as a source for peace in her life as her dad was battling cancer. She stumbled upon a type of yoga called Ashtanga and was immediately hooked because of the physical challenge (she loves handstands!) However, after practicing yoga for a decade for the physical benefit, the true value of yoga became apparent when she learned that yoga has the ability to train the nervous system to resist reacting to triggers.
Cheryl finds joy in teaching restorative yoga, which creates a safe environment for the body to escape from the stress state and drop into a state of relaxation and replenishment. She is excited to offer restorative classes to bodies who need to slow down and feel supported.
Currently, Cheryl is also doing an 18-month Mysore apprenticeship so that she can teach Ashtanga yoga to other Type A personalities like herself. She has a gift for teaching restorative and relaxation techniques, and also teaching techniques that build physical strength and resilience.
On a personal note, Cheryl recently relocated from the beach to the mountains with her husband and furbabies. She is looking forward to frolicking in the snow and enjoying new adventures on foot, bike, or skis when she is not on her yoga mat.
Come meet Cheryl on Mondays at 8pm eastern/5pm pacific for yoga for sleep. Give your body, mind, and spirit the counterbalance that it’s craving so you can truly replenish before you go full speed again.
With love,
Ming-Wai + Ming-Cee